Darkest Dungeon

Focus on levelling your characters while collecting gold and heirlooms. Once the darkest dungeon is unlocked you can send anyone into the dungeon, don't! only send level 5 & 6 heroes into the DD. Remember that levelling heroes take time, so plan your team early! Only hire the hero’s you want to take into the DD (maybe a backup or 2). Also remember that 99 weeks is quite a long time. There is no need to rush into the DD with level 5 characters, no backups by week 50/60. You have 30/40 more weeks, grow to level 6, have backups! Aim to enter DD by week 80/85 so you give yourself some space to surrender and retry if you need to. There are players who have beaten the DD by week 51, It's possible but not mandatory. If you beat it in week 98, you will still get the trophy and you'll have twice as long to prepare for it. Prepare!

To save yourself a playthrough, Combine this with your NG+ game (World End ). Important if you attempt this in NG+1 you need to beat the game WITHIN 91 weeks! This is still very doable.

General tips;

• Upgrading the Blacksmith and Guild asap is a must. This to upgrade your heroes. (I had both fully upgraded by week 42)
• Upgrade the Stagecoach to be able to hire more heroes and increase your roster
• Upgrading the sanitarium only to treat diseases.
• Due to these upgrades, deeds, portraits and crests have high priority.
• Pick quests based on rewards (mainly heirlooms and trinkets). Always aim for long missions over short missions as they give more rewards & experience.
• Get +33% heal scroll for your vestal(s) early, this will make all the missions afterwards easier.
• Use stress relief skills in combat and camps to save money (and time) on stress relief in town. (example the Jester’s Inspiring Tune).
• Avoid suicide runs and dismiss as little as possible, you don't need this if you manage your roster properly.
• Don't fight the Shambler, you already got the trinkets in the previous playthrough, don’t bother this time around.
• Don't surrender but don’t die either!
  • Surrendering is a waste of time as you don't get the reward nor the exp but when you die, you have to restart at 0 so if you REALLY have to - surrender rather than die. Losing one here is bad but it might weigh up against your rewards and exp for the 3 remaining heroes. Losing everyone is NOT worth it.
• Don't lose more than 4 heroes before you reach the DD.